Accessing Inner Wisdom through
Creative Expression
by Aviva Gold
We've all had experiences with our innate "Inner Wisdom" such as the process of a cold coming and going in its own time, the unexpected gift of a dream (maybe a nightmare) to guide us, or the inspired solution, seemingly out of "nowhere," for the poem or business deal with which we were struggling. This "Inner Wisdom" is known by many names, including: The Unconscious, God/Goddess, Great Spirit, Primal Energy, and Divine Inspiration. The name "Inner Wisdom" has special significance because this "body intelligence" aspect of the Divine seems to always know exactly what our total being needs to evolve and heal, and how and when to manifest in the most perfect, simple, efficient, sometimes humorous, sometimes terrifying, and often eloquent ways. It's so simple, perfect and ever present, that it's often difficult to notice and acknowledge.
Inner Wisdom thrives in an atmosphere of love, patience, and acceptance. Its only impulse is to be used; so much so that when we don't appreciate it or spend quality time with its flow, it keeps presenting us with uncomfortable situations, symptoms, dreams, and images putting us on notice to slow down, listen, feel, express all the necessary prerequisites to integrate, evolve, and heal. Inner Wisdom's vehicle is through the body. Inner Wisdom and the body are the same (as are God and the Body). All we have to do is quiet the mind and allow Inner Wisdom expression through the body. Often, Inner Wisdom clearly shows up in dreams, visualizations, and visual creations depicted in the form of a mysterious animal or bird, or a face or figure with a powerful presence.
Common practices that actively invite Inner Wisdom are: Yoga, Meditation, Breath Work, Dream Work, Athletics, Chanting, Prayer, Yogic Sexual Practices, Being in Nature, Honest and Heartfelt Communication between People, and Witnessing all forms of Expressive Arts. All these experiences bring us to the body, to sensations and feeling, to Inner Wisdom, to God/Goddess, to Soul.
An especially powerful and magical form of Inner Wisdom is accessed by total immersion in the creative process, whether it be dancing, making music and sounds, sculpting or painting. The body is the only place to go; there are no words. When engaged in the creative process, you are in your Divinity and undergoing transformation as well. And the Inner Wisdom that flows during this process is intrinsically encoded in your work and body alike. You experience yourself at this moment as fully authentic, fully alive...
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Copyright Aviva Gold. This article was
originally
published at our website, SoulfulLiving.com, in August
2000,
as part of our "Art & Creativity" Issue.
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